Kumpaya Girgaba
Born 1940s
Manyjilyjarra language group, Karimarra skin group
Parnngurr community
Martumili Artists
Kumpaya was born near Kiwirrkura and grew up in the Country around the stock route. Her family eventually joined their relatives at Jigalong mission. Kumpaya now lives at Parnngurr, but she has family in Balgo, Fitzroy Crossing, Patjarr and beyond. Through these relatives Kumpaya learnt to paint and make baskets. She has been instrumental in introducing these practices to Martu people.
Kaninjaku
2008, by Kumpaya Girgaba
acrylic on canvas
124 x 291.5 cm
Martumili Artists
National Museum of Australia
Kumpaya calls this painting Kaninjaku (Canning Stock Route), but the road is invisible and the canvas is dominated instead by the rhythm of tali, or sandhills. Despite the road’s prominence in colonial history, and its strong influence on the lives of Aboriginal people, here it has been absorbed into the artist’s language and her vision of her Country.
